Follower for filing receptacles



Nov. 29, 1949 L. A. WILSON ETAL FOLLOWER FOR FILING RECEPTACLES 3 Sheets-Sheet i Filed Nov. 9, 1945 Inveniors Za'u/rence fl. 7412' 1.9017

' jenjamz'n Grad 1949 L. A. WILSON ET AL 2, ,350

FOLLOWER FOR FILING RECBPTACLES Filed Nov. 9, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 /f INVENTORS law/fence fin Wilson ,Behjamz'n Grady liiorne 29, 1949 L. A. WILSON E 2,489,350

FOLLOWER FOR FILING I'RECEPT-AC-LESI INVENTORS Ian/fence )4. 10271017 njamfn Qa'd] Patented Nov. 29, 1949 FOLLOWER FOR FILING RECEPTACLES Lawrence A. Wilson, McLean, Va., and Benjamin Grady, Washington, D. 0.

Application November 9, 1945, Serial No. 627,772

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) 7 Claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States for governmental purposes and without the payment to us of any royalty thereon in accordance with the provisions of the act of April 30, 1928 (Ch. 460, 45 Stat. L. 467).

This invention relates to filing receptacles and more particularly to improvements in followers such as those used for vertical card files.

The follower of the present invention is intended to be shiftably mounted in a filing receptacle for adjustment into a position in which its compressor plate engages the files therein. In a preferred embodiment the follower is adapted in adjusted position to be so locked to the filing receptacle as to preclude at least rearward follower movement and, while locked, to'be so operated as to advance its compressor plate toward the engaged files, whereby the files will be compressed and remain in such condition until they are to be removed from the receptacle.

The construction and functions of the follower of the present invention make it well suited to the requirements of files for the cards used in business and other automatic tabulating machines. In such machines it is important that the cards be straight and fiat, otherwise the machine may not operate in the desired manner.

Experience shows that cards used in business machines often become bent or warped for various reasons and then, if fed into a machine, interfere with its normal operation. For example, the cards may become bent or warped from handling. The cards will also tend to buckle when exposed to the atmosphere. Loosely arranged cards in a filing receptacle permit air and its moisture to enter the spaces between adjoining cards. This air and moisture is taken up by the cards and causes them to lose their straight and flat condition.

Filing receptacles provided with cards resting on their edges and with a follower embodying the present invention will straighten warped or bent cards and will prevent the warping or buckling of flat straight cards. This end is accomplished by the compressor plate of the follower which is adapted to exert pressure against the cards and maintain them in closely packed condition, the action of the compressor plate being that of a press.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide an improved locking device for securely looking a file follower inany position of adjustment in a filing receptacle to preclude at least rearward movement of the follower.

Another object is to provide a filing receptacle follower which is adapted to compress rapidly the filed material by a natural and efficient manual motion on the part of the operator.

Still another object is to provide a file follower, of the type having shaft and gear connection to file receptacle side wall racks, with a shaft looking device, whereby proper meshing of gears and racks is constantly maintained, the locking device is normally operative to preclude a shifting movement of the follower in at least one direction, the locking device at all times may be quickly and manually set to release the follower for movement in said one direction, and the locking device is manually operable to advance said follower in the opposite direction and at the same time to preclude movement thereof in said one direction.

Another object is to provide a file follower with a mechanism which provides for locking of the follower in adjusted position by spring action under the control of a manually operable member and for release of the follower by manual movement of the member.

Still another object is to provide in the follower a cut-out finger hold to permit holding the filed material upright when compressing or when releasing the follower.

A still further object is to provide a compressor type of file follower which is characterized by its relatively simple and efficient construction, by the ease with which it may be operated, locked and controlled to compress filed material, and which is durable to insure a long useful life.

Another object is to provide an improved card follower for use with a filing receptacle for machine cards, tabulating cards and the like, which deteriorate or warp if not closely packed when filed, the follower being adapted to compress the filed material at a desired pressure and to maintain the compressed condition of the material as long as desired.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawings, wherein;

Figs. 1, 2 and 3, respectively, are perspective, top plan, and rear elevational views of an embodiment of the invention, the control device thereof being set manually to permit adjustment of the follower toward or away from the illustrated receptacle end wall. In Fig. l, the rearward section of the card filing tray is not shown for purposes of illustration. In Fig. 2, parts of the receptacle side walls are sectioned or broken away for purposes of illustration. Fig. 3 is partly in section 3 and 4, respectively, .show the. clutch of the con.

trol device in disengaged and engaged settings. In Fig. 4, the card follower is in a locked position, is in engagement with the cards but does not compress the cards. The Fig. setting results from a manual shifting of the control device from the Fig. 4 setting. In the Fig. 5 setting, the cards are compressed and the follower is locked to the receptacle side walls. The Fig. 6 setting results from a manual adjustment of the control device from the Fig. 5 setting and releases the follower for movement relative to the card receptacle front end wall.

Figs. 7 and 8, respectively,uare vertical sectional views taken on lines 1! and 8-8 of Figs. 2 and 3.

. Fig..9 is an. enlarged detail view of parts shown in Figs. 1 through- 8.

Fig. 10 is an exploded view of the mechanism in the control device.

Referring-now to the drawings in providin a description. of .this invention, a filing receptacle A is provided with. afollower and compressor B having. a. control.- device C.

The filing receptacle .A. maybe of conventional form..and ..construc.tion for-holding filing materials .D,-.such as tabulating cards, sheets, photographs, and similar files, which ar arranged in vertical positionwith their edges restin on the filing receptacle bottom. The filing receptacle A (see Figs. 1 and 2) may be in the form of the file drawer or tray having the usual front wall IE1, side walls lLbottom wall 12, and rear wall (not shown). The receptacle A may also be provided with a handle I3 of conventional form for use in carrying the receptacle A when it is removedfrorn its cabinet (notshown) The inner receptacle 'side walls are provided withguides, such as the channels 15, set in receptacle side. wall recesses, as illustrated in Figs. 1 through 8. The channelsl i serve as tracks for the follower B and 'extendin parallel relation for the full length of the receptacle A. The depending edge of each channel I 5 is in the form of a rack I6. 'Each rack :16 is spaced from the up-standing edge I! of :the corresponding chan-' riel it.

The followerand-compressor 'B is of relatively simple and yet sturdy construction. The compressor and follower *B-comprises (note particu larly Fig. 3) a relatively flat and'stout plate 29 which at its upper and side edges is provided with rearwardly extendin -flanges 2|, 22, 23, 24 and '25. These 'fianges may be formed by rearwardly bending the corresponding edges of plate stock' of which plateis formed or may be in the form of strips welded at their edges to the plate '29. It is preferabl that the flanges 2! through 25 be welded. together at their meeting edges. The flanges 2| through 25 provide the plate 26 with strength and rigidity. It will be notedthatone corner of the follower and compressor plate 29 isprovided with a cut-out finger hole bounded by. the flanges 23 and 24 to permit holding of the filing material D upright during movement of the plate 20. into and out of engagement with the filing material D. This finger hole is best illustrated in Fig. 3, where it appears in the upper right-hand corner of the plate 2 5. The cut-out finger hole is also shown in Fig. l.

The follower and compressor- B is supported in ,viding a bearing 32. strap 38 are received in the adjacent channel 15 4 the receptacle side wall channels it by means of straps 30 which may be attached by rivets or by welding to the flanges 2| and 25 (see Figs. 3 and 9), or may be formed integrally therewith. The central strap section-3l (see Fig. .9.) lies fiat against,x and is secured to, ;the adjacent plate flange, and the two have aligned openings pro- The opposite ends of each and form two shoes33 which slidably rest on the inner bottom of the channel l5 (see Fig. 8). The

slide in the channel l5, but have negligible freedom for movement between the upper and lower limits of the channel [5. Each strap 30 has angular-portions 34 (see Fig. 9) which position the .shoes .3.3..and-. the central section 3i in spaced verticalplanes and extend through the spacing between the edges [6 and I! of the channel Hi to maintain proper spacing of the strap central section 3| fromthe adjacent channel IS.

'The. plate .28 preferably has such width and height that they arebut slightly less than the corresponding inner idimensionsof the filing receptacle A. Itis also recommended that the filing material D to befiled in'the receptacle A be of such width and heightthat such dimensions are slightly'lessthan the width and height of the plate 26. These dimensions are suggested because they secure the best compressing action for avoiding the buckling'of'the material D during storage in the receptacle A.

The follower and compressor B is provided with andsupports a shaft or spindle 40 having a gear ll' on each end thereof. The shaft or spindle "4!) 'is illustrated as having a square cross section and a twist so that its side edges have a helical form. Thus the shaft or spindle 40-may be formed of stock which is square in'cross'section, which has four fiat sides, and which is twisted into the illustrated helical shape. In the illustrated form of the shaft or spindle 40, it has for purpose of illustration 2. QO-degree twist intermediate its ends. Each square end of the sha'ftor spindle 49 fits into a correspondingly shaped opening in a gear 5 to preclude "relative rotational movement. Each gear has a collar ll. which is journaled in the corresponding bearing 32. Thus each gear M is rotativelysupported by a bearing 32 which is in turn supportedby the shoes 33 that are slidably mounted in the tracks or channels l5.

It will now be seen that the follower shoes 33 maintain vertical stability of the follower plate Ziland maintain-at alltimes the gears 41 in proper mesh lwithsthe teeth of the racks H3. The illustratedrconstruction permits limited free transverse motionof the plate 20 from sideto side of the. receptacle A while maintaining it in a vertical plane to preclude rocking or jamming of the gears Aland the shoes.33. As the ifollower .and compressor B is:shifted relative to the receptacle front wall 110, the gears il retain their mesh engagement with the racks l6 and maintain the plate 20 parallel to the receptacle front wall It andto the mate-rialD filedtherebetween. The straps 3,0, with their shoes 33, assist in retaining the plate 20 at right angles to the receptacle side walls; I l .bothwhenrthe follower and compressor B is in a state of rest and when it is being shifted toward oraway from the receptacle front wall ii].

The locking andcompressing control device C com-prises asleeve 50,-a' hand hold block 5|, 2. spring 52; and a'collar-53. This control device is in the form ofa unit-which is-mounted on and supported by shaft or spindle 40. The sleeve 50 and the shaft 4|] have helical interfltting connection which in the illustrated construction is secured by providing the sleeve 50 with a through hole which is square in cross section and which axially is formed to generate a helical shape corresponding to the helical shape of the shaft 40. Thus the sleeve 50 is adapted to slide freely back and forth on the spindle 40 in the axial direction. However, the helical interfitting connection between the sleeve 50 and the shaft 43 provides for their relative rotational movement during their relative axial shifting movement. Axial shifting movement of the sleeve 55 from right to left (looking at Fig. 4), while the sleeve 55 is held against rotation, will produce rotary movement of the shaft 40 in such direction as to cause the gears 4| to travel along the racks l6 and toward the front wall H] of the receptacle A. This last described rotary movement for the gears 4| is in a clockwise direction (looking at Fig. 8). This co-action of the sleeve 50 and the shaft 40 may be secured by a helical interfitting connection of types other than that shown. For example, the shaft 40 may be in the form of a round rod having a helical groove cut or otherwise formed therein to receive a key extending inwardly from the surface of a circular bore in the sleeve 55.

The sleeve 50 is also provided with a shoulder 54 having clutch teeth 55 (see Figs. 3 and 10).

The hand hold block serves as a housing for the sleeve 50, the spring 52 and the collar 53 (see Figs. 3 and for example). The hand hold block 5| is provided with two axially aligned bores 56 and 51 of different diameters corresponding respectively to the two outer diameters of the sleeve 50 and its shoulder 54. The sleeve 53 and the block 5|, when assembled as illustrated, are adapted to have relative rotation as well as limited relative axial movement. That is, the sleeve 50 is journaled in the hand hold block 5| and the two are adapted to have limited relative sliding movement in an axial direction. The inner end of the collar 53 is provided with clutch teeth 59, is adapted to fit into the outer end of the bore 51, as illustrated in Fig. 3, and is secured to the hand hold block 5| in fixed position by a set screw 58 (shown in Fig. 1). It is apparent that the removability of the collar 53 facilitates disassembly of the control device.

The spring 52 is received in the larger bore 51 of the hand hold block 5| and is positioned between the counterbore shoulder 50 of the hand hold block 5| and shoulder 54 of the sleeve 53, as shown, for example, in Fig. 3. The action of this spring 52 is to urge yieldingly the block 5| and the sleeve 50 axially in opposite directions to maintain yieldingly the teeth 55 on the sleeve shoulder 54 in engagement with the teeth 59 on the collar 53. The sleeve teeth 55 and the collar teeth 59 act as a clutch which is normally held in its active setting by the sprin 52 (see Figs. '4 and 5), but which may be set in disengaged condition by manually shifting the block 5| against the action of the spring 52 and relative to the sleeve 50 (see Figs. 3 and 6).

The hand hold block 5| has an rip-standing wall portion 60 (see Figs. 3 and 7) at the upper limit of which is a projecting flange 3| having its outer edge shaped to provide a separate rest 62 for each of several fingers. The flange 5|- (see Fig. 7) is at a level slightly below the level of the plate flange 22, and the finger rest 62 is positioned slightly beyond the outer edge of the flange 22 (see Figs. 2 and 7). This arrangement offers the advantage that the operator may rest the palm of his hand on the flange 22, place his fingers in the recesses of the finger rest 62 and then slide his hand along the flange 22 to secure a corresponding movement of the hand hold block 5|.

A kick-out sleeve 63 (see Figs. 1, 2, 3 and. 10, for example) is mounted on the shaft 40. The sleeve 63 may be secured to the shaft in the position illustrated in Fig. 3, or the sleeve 63 may be freely rotatable on the shaft 40. In the illustrated embodiment of this invention, the sleeve 63 is freely rotatable on and freely shiftable axially of the shaft 40. The sleeve 63 has such length (as shown in Fig. 3, for example) that it may abut the follower plate flange 25 and have its outer end extend somewhat beyond the plate flange 23. The outer end of the sleeve 63 also is provided with an outer diameter somewhat smaller than the inner diameter of the collar 53. Thus the sleeve 63 serves as a stop for the sleeve 50, when the latter is shifted to the right (looking at Fig. 3). With the sleeve abutting the sleeve 63, as shown in Fig. 3, the hand hold block 5| may be manually shifted to the right until it engages the follower plate flange 23 for disengaging the clutch teeth and 59. This clutch disengagement may be conveniently maintained by manually grasping in one hand both the hand hold block 5| and the follower plate flange 23.

Operation The most desirable results from the use of the lower B rearwardly, this movement being readily accomplished when the hand hold block 5| is in the clutch disengagin position of Figs. 1, 2 and 3. When the cards D are properly arranged on edge in the receptacle A, the follower B is shifted forwardly, while the block 5| is held in the Figs. 1 to 3 setting, and to the position of Figs. 1 and 2, in which its follower and compressor plate 20 engages the adjacent card D. The cards D are now somewhat closely packed between thereceptacle front wall In and the plate 23.

The illustrated form of the present invention facilitates one hand operation of the follower B. This hand may be the right hand, which rests on the flange 22 to effect the follower shifting operation and which also engages the hand hold block 5| to maintain the clutch teeth 55, 59 in disengaged condition. During these shifting operations of the follower B with the right hand, the left hand may rest on the left receptacle wall I (the wall to the right in Fig. l) in such position that a finger of the left hand may be positioned in the finger hole provided by the follower plate flanges 23 and 24 to steady the pack of cards D until they are engaged by the follower and compressor plate 20.

When the follower B is advanced into engagement with the cards D, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the operator may release his hold on the block 5| to permit the spring 52 to shift the block to the left'and into the setting ofFig. 4 for effecting engagement oflthe clutch teeth59 w-ith the clutch teeth 55. 'Theseclutch teeth' 55' and 59 are of such shape that-the block' 5| andthe sleeve 59 are precluded from :havingrelative rotational movement'in such directionthat the gears 4| are locked against rotation in a counterclockwise direction (lookingzat Fig.6). That is, withthe clutch'(55, 59) inthe engaged setting, as illustrated in Fig. 4, the-follower B islocked to the receptacle side walls to preclude movement of the follower B in'a direction-awa from the receptacle front wall Hi. If desired, the clutch teeth 55 and 59 may be of such form that when they are engaged the follower-B is locked against movement toward or away from the-receptacle front wall H]. -If the teeth 55and 59- are so formed that when they are in engagement they preclude only movement of the follower B away from the receptaclefront wall I0, the follower B may be advanced from a rearward position in the receptacle A to a position in engagement with the cards D without it being necessary to operate the block 5| to secure disengagement of the clutch 55, 59.

When the follower B has'been-advanced'to the setting of Figs. 1 through '3 and the control device C has the setting of Fig. 4, the control device C is ready for manual operation to advance the follower B toward the receptacle front wall I0 and thereby compressthecards D. This compressing action is secured' by manually shifting the control device C-to the-left from the setting of Fig. 4 and to a setting such as shown in Fig. 5. During this shifting of'the control device C,'the, clutch teeth '55, 59 are maintained'in their engaged condition, there is no'relative' movement of the sleeve 50 and the-blo'ck'5l, and the control device C' moves as a unit axially along the'length of the shaft 40. Duringthis' shifting movement of the control device C from the setting of Fig.4 to the setting of Fig. -5, the helicalinterfitting connection between the 'sl-eeve" 50' andthe shaft 40 causes the shaft 4|] and its-gears-M to'rotate clockwise (looking at Fig. 8). This clockwise movement of the gears '4| forces them'to advance along the racks i 6 and thereby cause the follower and compressor plate Zfi to press the-cards'D into a closely packed condition and against the receptacle front wall'lil. Ithas been foundthata movement of the control device corresponding to that illustrated by Figs. 4 and 5- is usually adequate to secure adequate compression of the'cards D. It is to be notedthat thr'oughoutthe movement of the control device from the'Fig. 4 setting D to the Fig. 5 setting, the'manual pressure on the block 55, as well as the action of the spring '52, maintains the clutch'teeth '55and 59 in enga'g'ement and the fol-lowerB locked to-the receptacle sidewalls ll, so that the follower-B is effectively precluded from rearward movement. 'Thus in the Fig. 5 setting of thecontrol' device C, the'follower B is locked in a setting for maintaining the cards D in a tightly compressed condition.

By way of illustration and not of limitation, the helical shape of the shaft 48 and the size of the gears 3| may be so dimensioned that a shifting movement of the controldevice C from the Fig. 4 position to the Fig. 5 position is effective to advance the follower B a distance ofapproximately /16" in its card compressing action. Thus the extent of compressing action of the follower B is variable according to the extent of shifting movement of the control device C from the setting of Fig. 4.

- It'should be here noted that the \operaton in a continuous operation andwithoutremoving "his hand from the block 5|, can shift thecontrol de-. Vice C fromthe setting of Fig. 3 to the setting of Fig. 5. In this continued operation the hand hold block-5| of course would pass from'the Fig. :3 setting to the Fig. lsetting before shifting movement of the sleeve is initiated.

vIt will be noted that when the control device C is being shifted to the Fig. 5 setting, that the hand hold block 5| has a tendency to rotate counterclockwise (looking at Figs. 7 and 8) about the axis of the shaft 40. Such rotary movement of the block 55, however, is -precluded by its engagement with the eompresserand follower plate 20, as will be apparent from Figsand j 8- Rectilinear movement of the hand hold block 5| when it is shifted to the left (looking at Figs. 4 and 5) is assured by its engagement with the adjacent wall surface of the plate '20.

When access'to the compressed card material D is desired, the follower B maybe quickly released by a relatively simple and slight movement of the hand hold block 5| from the setting of Fig. 5 and tothe right,'asillustrated in Fig. 6, for effecting disengagement of the clutch teeth 55 and 59. When the hand 'holdblock 5| is shifted to the right from the settingof Fig. 5'to the setting of Fig. 6, the sleet/e 59 remains stationary and the clutch teeth 55 and-59 aredisengag ed. As soon as these clutch teeth 55 'and"59'are disengagcd, the sleeve 58 isfree' to rotate relative to the hand holdblock 5| and to permit corresponding rotation of the shaft 4|l=and the gears 4!. With the clutch 'in the'disengaged setting of Fig. 6, the resilience of thecompress'ed cards D tends to shift the follower B slightly in the direction away from the receptaele end wall H]. In this shifting movement of the follower B; the gears M will rotate in the counterclockwise direction (looking at Fig. 8) and causea corresponding movement of the shafted and-the sleeveili.

Figs. 4 and 5 demonstrate an extent of movement requiredin' certain card compressing operations. Figs. 5--and 6 demonstrata'however, that with only a slight movement of the hand held block 5|, the cards D are relieved of the compressingaction of the followerB.

As-Soon-as the cards-Dare relieved of the compressing-action of the follower B, the spring '52 tends to reestablish engagement of the clutch teeth 55, 59. Thus-it"is desirable'to shift the control device C to its setting of Fig. 3 for the purpose of shifting'the follower B rearwardly to provide greater spacingr-e-lativeto the receptacle end wall |il-and -more convenient access to the cards D.

When the follower B" is manually shifted away from the oards D, and the hand-hold block 5| is released by the hand of the operator, the control device C may have thesetting of Fig. 4 or of Fig. 5, or anyother setting along the shaft nland between the sleeve 63 and. the follower plate flange 2|.

The handle l3 and the-follower-B facilitate removalof the filing receptacle C from its cabinet (notshown) and'the carrying of the receptacle to a table or other support. For example, the left handof the operator may grasp the handle l3 and the right hand may grasp the follower plate flange 22 and the control device finger rest 62, as in a control device operation.

The foregoing: is-to be understood as merely being by way of illustration-sincethis invention includes allmodifications andembodiments com- 9 ing within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. The combination with a filing receptacle and a follower adjustable relative to an end wall thereof, of a mechanism associated with said follower for movement therewith in said adjustment, said mechanism including a shaft and cooperating clutch elements normally in engagement for precluding rotation of said shaft and adjustment of said follower away from said end wall, said shaft and one of said elements having helical interfitting connection, said elements being shiftable rectilinearly as a unit in one direction to rotate said shaft and advance said follower, one of said elements being shiftable in the opposite direction and relative to the second of said elements to effect their disengagement, free said shaft for rotation, and thereby free said follower for adjustment toward and from said end wall.

2. The combination recited in claim 1 in which means are provided for yieldingly maintaining the cooperating clutch elements in engagement.

3. The combination recited in claim 1 in which one of said elements is journaled in the other element, the two elements have opposed toothed faces adapted to be engaged and disengaged by relative movement of the elements axially of said one element, said elements have opposed shoulders, and a spring is disposed between said shoulders for maintaining yieldingly said faces in engagement.

4. In a control device for the follower of a filling receptacle, the combination of manually shiftable means having a finger grip and three aligned bores, an element journaled in the outer two of said bores and having an enlarged section disposed in the other or intermediate one of said three bores, a spring disposed in said intermediate bore and between one end thereof and said enlarged section, the other end of said intermediate bore and said enlarged section having opposed clutch faces normally in engagement with each other by action of said spring, a shaft extending through said element and having helical interfitting connection therewith to provide rotation of said shaft during movement of said element axially thereof, and means for limiting rotary movement of said shiftable means in at least one direction about the axis of said shaft.

5. For use in a filing receptacle, the combination of a follower plate adapted for adjustable movement in the receptacle and relative to an end wall thereof, said plate having a finger receiving through opening extending down from the level of the plate top edge and at one end thereof, a shaft associated with said plate and extending substantially from side edge to side edge thereof and at a level below said plate top edge, a device for controlling said shaft and mounted thereon for adjustment axially thereof, said control device including two clutch parts relatively movable axially of said shaft to effect their engagement and disengagement, means on said shaft and adjacent said plate opening to serve as a limit stop for one of said clutch parts and means interposed between the other of said clutch parts and said follower plate for limiting rotary movement of said other clutch part in at least one direction about the axis of said shaft.

6. In a filing construction including a receptacle having side wall racks, a follower plate adjustable toward and from an end wall of said receptacle, a shaft, gears secured to said shaft and in mesh with said racks, and means slidably mounted in said receptacle and supporting said plate, said means being so associated with said shaft as to maintain said gears in engagement with said racks; a control device comprising: a sleeve-like element mounted on said shaft for movement axially thereof, said element and said shaft having helically interfitting connection to provide rotary motion of said shaft as said element moves axially thereof, a manually operable element mounted on said sleeve-like element and adapted to have substantially rectilinear movement, opposed clutch faces associated with said elements, means urging said elements in opposite directions axially of said shaft for yieldingly maintaining said clutch faces in engagement to lock said shaft against rotation in at least one direction and thereby lock said follower plate in adjusted position to preclude movement thereof away from said end wall of the receptacle, said manually operable element being shiftable axially of said shaft in one direction to shift said sleeve-like element in the same direction by en gagement of said clutch faces and thereby to effect rotary movement of said shaft for advancing said plate toward said end Wall to exert pressure on filing material in the receptacle, said manually operable element being shiftable in the opposite direction to separate said clutch faces, remove said pressure, and release said plate for adjustment thereof toward or away from said end wall, said manually operable element in a continued shifting movement in said opposite direction being adapted to shift said sleeve-like element with said clutch faces in separated relation.

7. In a filing construction including a card tray having recessed inner side walls, tracks set in the recesses of said side walls, said tracks each extending between the tray end walls and being provided with a rack extending lengthwise thereof, a follower plate extending between said inner side walls and adjustable toward and from an end wall of said tray, a shaft positioned adjacent and rearwardly of said plate and extending between said inner side walls, a gear secured to each end of said shaft and in mesh with the adjacent one of said racks, and shoes slidably mounted in said tracks and secured to the opposite ends of said plate for supporting the same, said shoes being so associated with said shaft as to maintain said gears in engagement with said racks; a control device comprising: a sleeve-like element mounted on said shaft for movement axially thereof, said element and said shaft having helically interfitting connection to provide rotary motion of said shaft as said element moves axially thereof, a manually operable element mounted on said sleeve-like element and adapted to have sliding engagement with said follower plate in a plane parallel to said shaft axis, opposed clutch faces associated with said elements and encircling said shaft, means urging said elements in opposite directions axially of said shaft for yieldingly maintaining said clutch faces in engagement to lock said shaft against rotation in at least one direction and thereby lock said follower plate in adjusted position to preclude movement thereof away from said end wall of the receptacle, said manually operable element bein shiftable axially of said shaft in one direction to shift said sleeve-like element in the same direction by engagement of said clutch faces and thereby to effect rotary movement of said shaft and advance said plate for applying pressure on file material engaged thereby, said manually operable element being shiftable in the opposite direction to separate said clutch faces, remove said REFERENCES. CITED The following references are of record-"int the file :of this patent:

Number Number 12 UNITED STATES PATENTS:

Name Date", Clark: Oct: 26,1915

FOREIGN PATENTS Country- Date France June-6,-"*-1936 

